C++ final Keyword

class Vehicle {
  public:
    string brand = "Ford";
};

class Car final : public Vehicle {
  public:
    string model = "Mustang";
};

// class SportsCar : public Car {};  // Error, because Car is final

int main() {
  Car myCar;
  cout << myCar.brand + " " + myCar.model;
  return 0;
}

Definition and Usage

The final keyword prevents a class from being inherited. Write it after the class name, like class Car final.

You can also write final after a virtual method. Then child classes cannot override the method (write their own version of it).

final (like override) is not a reserved word, so you can still use it as a name. It only has a special meaning in a class.

Related Pages

Read more about inheritance in our C++ Inheritance Tutorial, and about virtual methods in our C++ Virtual Functions Tutorial.